Beginnings
  Many years ago the Women’s Institute Drama Group in Halesworth began to win prizes. Their enthusiasm and a taste for ‘the stage’ encouraged the group to form Halesworth’s first amateur dramatic society in 1967. The prime mover in its foundation was Jo Stone, wife of the then headmaster of Halesworth Modern School; it was named just ‘Circle 67,’ and for some years was based at what is now the Middle School.
  Among the founder members were Jennifer Dickson, Alan Deering, Helen Holmes and Robin Westmacott. The first person to honour us as president was Charlie Vanstone; he was followed successively by ‘Nick’ Nicholls, Ruth Nicholls and, in 1995, the current president Dr Michael Dickson.
  Subsequently we performed most frequently at the Halesworth Rifle Hall, but we soon began to tour productions around a wide variety of local village halls and other venues. In 1983 we began the annual summer open-air tour of pub gardens which continues as the ‘Shorter Shakespeare’ series, and at Christmas 2003 gave our first performance at ‘The Cut’, Halesworth’s newly opened and splendid theatre and arts complex.
  In 1995 we changed our name to The Circle 67 Players, and a few years later centred our operations on Bramfield, where regular rehearsal facilities have been established at the village hall and where our costumes are stored.

People
  Counting the names of casts, backstage crews and offstage helpers listed in our new Index of Circle 67 Programmes more than 400 people have creatively contributed to our 92 stage productions between 1967 and January 2007. Helen Holmes, a founder member, was actress in our first and costumière for our 2006 productions, with a total of 39 productions in one or other (or both) of these capacities and as director for the first time in 2006; John Frost, who joined us in 1981, just tops her record with 41 productions as actor and/or furniture maker and set builder.
  The youngest actor was little Jake Oxford, only 5 years old when he stood in the Chalk Circle (1992); and the oldest Mary Hovells, who gave her last performance in A Christmas Carol (1996) when she was in her 93rd year.
  Some are 'old troupers', some are young 'beginners' and some are more in the limelight than others: directors, wardrobe mistresses, stage management, scene-makers and painters, musicians, secretaries, treasurers, committee members - all of them are as vital as actors in bringing to appreciative audiences the quality of performance for which we aim and for which we hope we are known.
  The atmosphere of shared enjoyment and shared adventure which each new project brings ensures the continuation of the Society. We have a committee that attempts to keep things in order, but we have no prima donnas: we all work together and "a good time is had by all."